Vehicle bumper



Sept. 3, 1940.

J. R. REYBURN VEHICLE BUMPER Filed Feb. 25, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 1^' lNVENTOR Jan/v R RE YBURN vBY mmh-ORNE! A Sept. 3, 1940. J. R. REYBURN l VEHIGLEBUMPER Filed Feb.' 25. 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JoH/VR EYBUHN BY m` ATTRNEY Patented Sept. A3,l 1940 ori-ICE VEHICLE BUmrEn John R.. Reyburm Fairiield, Conn., assigner7 to American Chain & Cable Company, Inc., a corporation of New York Application February z5, 193s, serial No. V192,434

22 claims'. (cl. 29H5) This invention relates to improvements in bumpers for vehicles, more particularly those of the type in which a horizontal bumper bar is arranged either in front of or behind, or bothin front of and behindgthe vehiclefor the prevention of injury to the vehicle if it runs into an obstacle, or is run into by another vehicle. VSuch bumpers have been found satisfactory for protectlng the parts of the vehicle directly in line with the bumper bar against objects which are directly in line with the bumper bar. With a vehicle having a low hung frame the bumper bar is usually lower than in the case of a vehicle having a higher hung frame. The bumper bar of one of the colliding vehicles may be higher or lower than the bumper bar of the other due to grade changes in the road. To prevent over-l lapping and overriding bumper bars have been increased in depth in certain instances and in 50 other instances they have been provided ,with vertical guards.

When the bumper bar of one vehicle hits the upper end of a vertical guard on the bumper bar of another vehicle, it tends to tilt the vertical guard by bending the supporting bumper bar and thereby reduces the effective height of the vertical guards. As a result, the lbumper bar of one vehicle overrides the vertical guard on the bumper bar of the other vehicle and hooks over u the same causing injury to the vehicle or vehicles and also prevents disengagement o. the bumper bars.

Among the objects of my invention is the provision of means whereby the tendency for such vertical guard and bumper bar to rotate about an axis longitudinally of the bumper bar is resisted by spring means secured to the vehicle and to said vertical guard and to the bumper im bar which spring means may in one embodiment A ,l of the invention be a spring bracket which supports the bumper bar. One of a pair of spring brackets may be bent sogas t'ocross the bumper bar at right angles thereto and may have portions which engage the lvertical guard above and below the bumper bar whereby any tendency of the vertical guard to rock will be resisted by the spring bracket.

Other objects of the'in'vention will appear from 5g the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which'- I Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bumper bar construction showing one embodiment of my invention; j

65 Fig. 2 is a section on the'line. 2-2 of Fig. 1;

= spring bracket; and

lFor the purpose of disclosing my invention, I

Fig. 3'is a top shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a modified construction of a spring j bracket;

Fig. 5` shows a construction in which two opposing spring brackets are employed;

Fig. 6 shows a further mourned form of the spring bracket shown in Fig. 1; t

Fig. 7 shows a further modification of the plan view of the construction Fig. 8 shows still a further'modication of the spring bracket, showing reversely disposed brackets at opposite ends ofthe bumper bar.

I have shown my invention in connection with a bumper bar I0 which consists of a bar of steel of much greater height than thickness and which may be curved'transversely. The invention is applicableto bumper bars of other cross sectional The bumper bar is supported by spring brackets II and I2 secured to the bumper bar in the usual manner and also secured to the channel frame members I3 and I4 of the vehicle by bolts which also secure inner .spring brackets I5 and I 6 to the channel frame members. The spring brackets II and I2 curve outwardly and are of conventional shape. In a conventional construction, the inner brackets curve toward each other with their ends extending in the direction of the bumper'bar and secured thereto.

have shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the innerrelsilient spring brackets I5 and I6 as twisted and^curved toward each other as indicated at l'l andv I8 and as bent downwardly as indicated at and 2| slightly below the plane of the lower ends of the vertical guards 22 and 23 and then bent upwardly to provide vertical portions 24 and 25.

As the constructions of the vertical portions of the brackets are the same, I will describe the connection between such vertical portions and the vertical guards by reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the vertical guard l23 is provided with a lower bridging or cross member 26 and anupper bridging or cross member 21 connected to the sidel flanges of the vertical guard by welding or the like or by being 'cast or otherwise formed as an integral part thereof, against which straight or flat portions 28 and 29 of the vertical portion 250i the bracket may be vsecured by means of bolts 30 and 3l. The intermediate portion 132of.the vertical portion 25 is preferably curved to t the curvature lof the bumper bar III. 'I'he construction of the vertical portion may be such that the intermediate portion 32 is pressed to the rear relatively to the straight portween the bumper bar andthe vertical portion of the spring bracket and also to create Afriction against the nuts on the bolts, To prevent relative vertical movement between the spring brackets and the vertical guard and the bumper barV the flanges of the guard are preferably recessed y as indicated at 35 to t,and receive the bumper bar ID. 'I'he spring bracket may also engage the lower cross flange on the vertical guard. The inner ends ofthe brackets may be secured to the webs of the channel frame members i the usual manner and their outer ends may support the vertical guards and bumper bar without neces sitating perforating the bumper bar at these l points;Vv Impacts against the lower end of the vertical guard 23 will be opposed by the resistance to compression of the bracket 'I6 which also resists anytendency of thevvertlcal guard to cam. over any obstacle or other bumper bar of another vehicle. Impacts directly on the center of the vertical guard will be'transferred directly to the 25, spring bracket I6 and througlfr the bumper bar to the adjacent spring bracket I2. Impacts on the upper end of the vertical guard which tend to tilt the guard toward the rear and to bend the bumper bar will be opposed by the resistance to 3.0 bending of the vertical portion 25 with respect to the rearwardly extending portion of the 'spring bracket. Such tendency to tilt will also be opposed by the tension of the spring arm I6 as is understood by considering the bumper bar I0 'as 35, operatings as a fulcrum under such impacts.

While I have disclosed the spring brackets" as being secured to the outer faces of the channel frame members I3 and I4, it is understood, of course, that they may be secured to the inner 40 faces thereof or one of each pair of spring brack-vr ets could be securedy to the outer face and the other to the inner face of the channel frame members.

The modiiied form of spring bracket indicated at IBa Fig. 4 may be bent upwardly and then downwardly as at 25a and may be secured to the vertical bumper guard in the same wayin which the bracket disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is secured thereto, and additionally by a bolt 40 which passes through the bracket and the bumper bar and through a cross web 4I integral with or secured to thevertical guard 23a. In this construction, rearward or counter-clockwise tilting is opposed directly by the resistance to compression of the spring bracket.

J In Fig. 5 I have disclosed a pair of spring brackets corresponding to brackets I6 and I6a and having their vertical portions 2 5 and'25aoverlapping and secured to the cross webs bridging 6I) the sideflanges of the vertical guard23 by means of bolts as indicated.

In Fig. 6 I have shown another modified form of the spring bracket indicated at I6b in which the vertical portion 25h is provided with a forp wardly bent extension 43 which may engage the rear face of the vertical guard 23h. In this construction -I may omit the cross member 21, Fig. 2. The vertical portion 25h is preferably secured to the bumper bar I0 by means of a bolt as indicated, and'if desired, this construction may also include a web such as 4I shown in Fig. 4.

In all the constructions so far. described the free end of the vertical portion of the spring bracket lmay terminate at the far edge of the bumperbar, the brackets still eiectively functioning to prevent tiltingand rocking of the vertical guard.

As shown in Fig. 7, the spring bracket included in my improvement may be'connected to a transverse portion of the frame member and may be ,connected to either transverse portion. thereof but preferably to the lower portion especially when the bracket indicated at I6c is bent downwardly and then upwardly as indicated in Fig. 2. 1f the bracket is bent upwardly and then downwardly as indicated in Fig. 4, the bracket may be secured if desired on the upper ilange of the frame member. In this modification the bracket is not bent laterally with respect to the frame member but is carried directlyfforward as indicated and the vertical guard 23 is in alinel ment with the frame member I4.

` As disclosed in Fig. 8 the bracket iSd, may be bent so that its vertical portion is in alinement with the frame member I 4. In this construction the brackets I6d and I2 may be secured to the channel member in the conventional manner and the vertical guard 23 may be located directly in front of the frame member I4.

As shown in this figure, I may use a downwardly bent bracket I6d on one side4 of thevvehicle and an upwardly bent bracket, ,I6e, on the other side of the vehicle. This will provide for a balanced construction in which the tendencies for the bumper bar "and vertical guards to rock clockwise and colunter-clockwise are opposed by.

- tical guards and the side members of the frame and that if desired these brackets may be secured to other parts of the vehicle.

The spring brackets I have disclosed eiciently cushion the bumper bar against impacts from various angles and may be used without the use of vertical guards as supports for any conventional type of bumper bar of the usualor of rincreased vertical depth.

AWhile I have described various forms ,of embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that this is not to be taken as showing all the possible forms of embodiments but merely as illustrations of various ways in which the principles of my invention may be carried out.. It is to be understood therefore that the disclosure herein made is not to be taken as limitative but merely as illustrative and that I reserve the right to make various changes in form, construction and arrangement of parts that fall within the principles of this invention and within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Iclaim: l

1. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, spa-ced vertical guards extending above and depending below said bumper bar', spring bar bracketssecured .to the vehicle and provided `with vertical portions extending above and depending below said bumper bar and in alinement with said guards, and means securing said guards and bumper bar to said brackets.

2. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, spacedvertical the vehicle and terminating in vertical portions said bumper bar and in alinement with said guards, and means securing said guards and bumper bar to said brackets. j v 3. A 'vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, spaced vertical guardsextending above and depending below said bumper 'bar and recessed to receive said bumper bar, spring bar brackets secured to the vehicle and provided with verticalportions extending above and depending below said bumper ibar and in alinement with said guards, the upper and lower ends of said vertical portions engag-l ing the rear side o t s aid guards and the center portion engaging the rear face of said bumper bar, and means securing tHe upper and lower portions of said .guards to saidupper and lower ends of said vertical portions.

4.A vehicle bumper comprising a horizon- I ytally extending bumper bar, spaced vertical guards extending above and depending, below f said bumper bar and recessed to receive said bumper bar, spring bai; brackets secured to the vehicle and terminating in vertical portions extending above and depending below saidA bumper bar and in Ialinement with said guards, the upper and lower ends of said vertical portions engaging the rear sides of said guards andthe center portion being constructed to engage the rrear face of said bumper bar, in advance of the engagement of said upper and lower ends of said vertical portions with said guards, and means securing the upper and lower portions of said guards against the upper and lower ends of said vertical extending portions.

with portions in a Vertical 4.5 above said bumper bar, and means securing said guards and bumper bar to said brackets.

6. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, spaced vertical guards extending above and depending below said bumper bar, spring bar brackets provided with portions secured? to said Vehicle *and being bent downwardly intovv alinement with the lower ends of the vertical guards and upwardly in alinement with the rear faces 'of the vertical guards and extending above said bumper bar,

and means securing said guards and bumper bar to said brackets.

'7. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, spaced vertical guards extending above and depending below said bumper bar, supporting brackets provided with portions secured to the vehicle, said brackets being bent downwardly into alinement with the'lower ends of the vertical guards and then upwardly vertically parallel to the rear faces of said guards, said guards being recessed to receive the bumper bar and said vertical extending p0rtions being bent to engage and conform to the ransverse cross sectional shape of said bar, and means securing the guards to the upper and lower ends of said vertical extending portions.

8. A vvehicle .bumper comprising a horizontally extendingbumper bar of arcuate cross section, spaced vertical guards extending above and depending below said bumper bar, supporting '2,213,592 iextending above and. depending below vertical extending and depending below brackets providedwith portions secured to the vehicle, said brackets being bent downwardly into alinement withthe lower ends of the vertical guardsand then upwardly vertically parallel to the rear faces of said guards, said guards being recessed to receive the bumper bar and said prtions'being bent to engage and conform to the cross section of said bar, and

means securing the guards to the upper andl lower ends of said vertical extending` portions.

9. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizon- ,l

Y spaced vertical guards extending labove Tand depending below@I tally extending bumper bar,

said bumper bar, supporting brackets secured to the vehicle and` being bent upwardly into engagement withfsaid vertical guards at a point above the bumper bar and then being bent downwardly into` engagement with thel guard at Aa .point below said bumper bar, and means for securing the vertical guards and said bumperr bar to said brackets. Y

`10. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, spaced vertical guards extending above and depending below said bumper bar, supporting brackets secured to the vehicle and being bent upwardly into engagement with said vertical guard at a point above the bumper bar and lthen being bent downwardly in to engagementwith the guard at a point below said bumper bar, and means for securing the vertical guards and engaging parts of said brackets together and securing the bumper bar to said brackets.

1l. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, spaced vertical guards extending above and depending below said bumper bar, a pair of opposed brackets for each tions securedto said-vehicle and extending respectively downwardly and upwardly into alinement vwith the lower and upper ends of said vertical guards, and further extending upwardly and downwardly respectively in alinement with therear faces of said vertical guards and bumper bar to said vertically extending portions.

12. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, spaced vertical guards extending above and depending below said bumper bar, a pair of opposed brackets for each vertical guard having overlapping portions secured to said vehicle and extending respectivelydownwardly and upwardly into downwardly respectively in alinement with the rear faces of said securing said guards and bumper bar to said overlapping vertically extending portions.

13. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, a guard extending above said bumper bar, a spring bar bracket secured to the vehicle and provided with a portion extending into alinement with the lower end of the vertical guard, an upwardly extending portion paralleling the rear face' of thel vertical guard having `'overlapping por" vertical guards, and. meansA point above the bumper bar,

alignment with the lower and Iupper ends of said vertical guards, and further Aextending in overlapping relation upwardly and ment with one end of the vertical guard, a vertical portion on said bracket paralleling the rear face o the guard, and a forwardly extending portion on said vertical portion engaging the guard at a point between the bumper bar and the other endof the guard, and means securing the bumper bar and vertical guard to said bracket.

15. Avehicle bumper vcomprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, a vertical guard extending above and depending below said bumper bar, a spring bar bracket secured to the vehicle and extending into contact with one end of said vertical guard and further extending parallel to the rear face of said guard and into contact with the other end of said vertical guard, and means for securing said vertical guard and bumper bar to said bracket.

16. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, a vertical guard extending above and depending below said bumper bar,

a spring bar bracket secured to the vehicle and extending into contact with one end of said vertical guard and further .extending parallel to the rear face of said guard and into contact with the other end of saidl vertical guard, and means for securing said first mentioned end of said vertical guard and said bumper bar to said bracket.

, 17. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, spaced vertical guards extending above and depending below said bumper bar, a spring bar bracket associated with one of said guards secured to said vehicle and having an upwardly extending portion and a downwardly extending portion paralleling the rear face of said guard, means securing the upper and lower portions of said guard to said downwardly extending portion on opposite sides of said bumperI bar, and aspring bar bracket on the other side of the vehicle secured to said vehicle and extending downwardly and then'upwardly parallel to the rear face of the other of said guards,V and means securing said guard to said upwardly extending portion at points below andA above said bumper bar. Y y

18. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper bar, a spring bar bracket secured to the vehicle and engaging the rear face of s`aidbar and having portions projecting above and below said bar, a vertical guard engaging the front face of said bar and located in alinement with said projecting portions of said bracket, and means securing said guard to said projecting portions.

19. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumper 'ban a vehicle supported spring bar bracket and a vertical guard located on opposite sides of said bar, and having portions projecting beyond at least one edge of said bar, and means securing said projecting portions together.

20. A vehicle bumper comprising a horizontally extending bumpeixbar, a vehicle supported spring bar bracket and a vertical guard located on opposite sidesof and embracing said bar, said bar being imperforate in the region of said bracket and guard, and means securing said guard to said bracket.

21. A vehicle bumper comprising a. horizontally extending bumper bar, a pair of spring bar brackets extending in a horizontal plane and connected to said' bumper bar near its ends, a second pair of spring bar brackets connected to said vehicle `and lying in a vertical plane and secured to said bumper bar at points closer to the center of said bumper bar, said latter brackets being provided with portions extending above and below said bumper bar and in alignment with the rear face thereof, vertical guards bearing against said .portions of said latter brackets, and means securing said guards, bumper bar and said latter brackets together.

22. A vehicle bumper construction comprising a horizontal bumper bar, a vertical guard associated with said bar, a spring bar bracket secured to the vehicle and having a portion lying adjacent one end of said vertical guard and another portion lying adjacent said bumper bar, and means securing said bracket to said end of said `vertical guard and to said bumper bar.

JOHN REYBURN. 

